Diving the Reef, Isla Contoy II Print

This is a series of studies based on my impressions of the colors and movement after diving the Great Maya Reef off the coast of Mexico for six memorable months. The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System (MBRS), also popularly known as the Great Mayan Reef or Great Maya Reef, is a marine region that stretches over 1,126 kilometres (700 mi) along the coasts of four countries – Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras – from Isla Contoy at the northern tip of the Yucatán Peninsula south to Belize, Guatemala and the Bay Islands of Honduras. The reef system includes various protected areas and parks including the Belize Barrier Reef, Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park, Hol Chan Marine Reserve (Belize), Sian Ka'an biosphere reserve, and the Cayos Cochinos Marine Park. It begins near Isla Contoy on the northern tip of the Yucatán Peninsula and continues south alongside the Riviera Maya including areas like Cozumel and Banco Chinchorro. It then continues south along the eastern coast of Belize including many cayes and atolls. It extends to the north-east corner of Honduras. Belize's coastline, including the Belize Barrier Reef, is home to approximately 30% of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System.The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System is considered critically endangered according to the criteria of the IUCN Red List of Ecosystems. I hope to bring greater awareness through art and design of the importance of the preservation of one of the rarest and most beautiful places on earth. This painting was created with pearlescent acrylic paint reminiscent of the scales of the fish that inhabit the reef and the interaction of sunlight with the water near the surface, which is only inches deep. I hope this will inspire the viewer to find out more about preserving our endangered and invaluable environment and contribute to current preservation efforts.